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| Photo by Stance Mitchell; Layout: John B. Castigador |
Iloilo City - The first-ever Vestido Ilongga, a Fashion Design Competition, started out with sophistication and elegance as budding local fashion designers showcased their works for the event.
Vestido Ilongga 20/20 is a heritage fashion event that was held at the Event Center of Festive Walk Mall Iloilo on February 22, 2020. The event aims to discover young local fashion designers who will promote local fabrics, such as hablon, patadyong, kata, piña and jusi, and their designs for national and global attention and competitiveness. With the theme, "Iloilo: Past, Present and Future", its purpose is to reinvent and redefine Baro't Saya and Terno to contemporary modernity for timeless classicism.
The competition began with an idea over a cup of coffee two years ago. Lifestyle and Society Blogger John B. Castigador, and Iloilo's Bad Boy of Fashion Bo Parcon talked about their immense love for fashion, coming up with a heritage fashion event with relevance. They believe that Iloilo's fashion industry and its stakeholders should unite and promote its local fabric and industry as Iloilo City was once the "Queen City of the South" which used to have a thriving textile industry.
Four of the fashion industry professionals were invited to judge for the event.
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| Jerome Lorico, an Award-Winning Fashion Designer & Mentor from Manila |
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| Jojie Lloren, a Fashion Designer & President of Fashion Arts Business Creatives |
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| Barge Ramos, a Communication Arts graduate of Ateneo de Manila, Past President of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines, Author of the Coffee Table Book "Pinoy Dressing: Weaving Culture into Fashion" |
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| Albert Andrada, a Multi-Awarded and Internationally-Renowned fashion designer. His collection is frequently showcased in different international fashion shows all over Asia and the Americas. The designer who have dressed up royalties, world leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and beauty queens. The creator of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's iconic royal blue gown |
The event featured the five finalists vying to be the Grand Winner of Vestido Ilongga
A month ago, Andy Basco, Freitz Von Pamplona, Mark Jerez, Robbie Philip Pacificar, and Matt Yeu were screened and mentored by Barge Ramos and Jojie Lloren with the help of Bo Parcon and Jor-El Espina
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| Grand Winner Vestido Ilongga 20/20: Matt Yeu; Photo by Barge Ramos |
With winners announced, Frietz Von Pamplona won the Best Baro't Saya Design. Matt Yeu won the Best Terno Design. He is also the Grand Winner Vesitdo Ilonnga 20/20.
Presented by Festive Walk Mall and Department of Tourism Region VI, in cooperation with MORE Electric Power Corporation, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Amazing Trails and the Municipality of Oton, and supported by Toyota Iloilo Inc., Darl's Jewels, Light of Glory, Drs. Pacita and Marigold T. Gonzalez, Smallville Travel and Tours, Hotel 101 and Ruru Aesthetic Clinic, the idea became a concept, and is now a reality.